National Academy of Sciences

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The National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the United States Congress, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.

History

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, as a result of the need for an independent body to advise the government on scientific matters. The founding of the NAS was influenced by the Civil War, which highlighted the need for scientific expertise in military and industrial matters.

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Alexander Dallas Bache, one of the founding members of the NAS.

The first president of the NAS was Alexander Dallas Bache, a prominent scientist and great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. Other notable founding members included Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and William Barton Rogers, founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Joseph Henry, a founding member of the NAS.

Organization and Membership

The NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which also includes the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. Members are elected by their peers in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

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William Barton Rogers, another founding member of the NAS.

Functions and Activities

The NAS provides independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. It conducts studies and publishes reports on a wide range of topics, including health, education, energy, and the environment. The Academy also promotes science education and public understanding of science.

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Othniel Charles Marsh, a notable member of the NAS.

Facilities

The NAS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., where it operates from a historic building on the National Mall. The building, designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was completed in 1924 and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

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The Keck Center of the National Academies in Washington, D.C.

In addition to its main building, the NAS operates the Keck Center in Washington, D.C., and the Beckman Center in Irvine, California. These facilities host meetings, conferences, and other events related to the Academy's work.

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The Beckman Conference Center in Irvine, California.

Related Pages

• National Academy of Engineering
• National Academy of Medicine
• National Research Council (United States)
• Science policy of the United States